The General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN) is off to a good start after the first meeting following an overhaul was held in Canberra last Wednesday.
GAAN is the successor to the General Aviation Advisory Group (GAAG), and has a renewed focus under new chair Andrew Andersen.
Previously, GAAG met only two or three times per year, which is thought to have hampered progress on the GA Flight Plan project. Australian Flying believes that GAAN will aim to meet more often.
GAAN provides advice directly to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and recommends ways of reducing pressure and dealing with issues and trends facing the GA sector.
A spokesperson from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development said the first meeting under the new chair was "productive and positive".
"Discussions at the meeting focussed on recent updates to the Civil Aviation Act, regional and remote policy initiatives, costs facing the general aviation sector, recent changes to aviation rules and regulations and airspace planning in the Sydney basin," the spokesperson said.
"The chair, supported by GAAN members, expressed a strong desire to focus on strategic opportunities that could be used to frame advice to the Deputy Prime Minister in order to improve the regulatory environment for the general aviation sector."
GAAN members were chosen for their skills and expertise in the aviation industry and represent a broad cross-section of the GA sector, including flight training, manufacturing, maintenance, sport and recreation, helicopters, aerial applications, RPAS and aeromedical operations.